THE PREACHER AND THE CALL OF GOD - Daniel L. Akin

[Pages:31]SECTION 5 The Personal Life of the Minister

THE PREACHER AND THE CALL OF GOD

(Galatians 1:1-17) - A Study by Dr. Stephen Olford (adapted from Anointed Expository Preaching)

The call to preach is the sovereign initiative of God in the life and experience of the one who is predestined to fulfill that role.

I. THE NATURE OF GOD'S CALL TO PREACH

A.

God's Eternal Call of Grace (v15)

The preacher's call to preach was laid out for him in advance by a

sovereign God.

B.

God's Effectual Call of Grace (v15)

The eternal call of God becomes the effectual call when the

preacher responds to God's leading and submits to the call to

preach. Such a one will have a divine commission behind him, a

divine summons before him, and a divine conviction within him.

II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S CALL TO PREACH

A.

The Revelation of the Indwelling Son

Preaching is essentially incarnational. If we would be followers

of the Prince of Preachers, then all of our preaching should be a

"fleshing out" of the pattern that Jesus left for us.

B.

The Revelation of the Impelling Son

Five Biblical tests of the call to preach: 1. Do I meet the qualifications of a preacher as set forth in the

Word of God? 2. Have I the witness of the Spirit in my heart that God has

called me? 3. Has the gift of the preacher become evident in my life and

service? 4. Has my church recognized and confirmed my preaching gift? 5. Has God used my preaching gift to the salvation of souls and

the edification of the saints?

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III. THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S CALL TO PREACH

A. We Must Preach the Gospel. The gospel of salvation is by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone. This calls for faithful, fearless, and fervent preaching.

1. We must be faithful in our preaching (w6-9). The truth of God always exposes the characteristics of heresy. The truth of God always exposes the consequences of heresy.

2. We must be fearless in our preaching (v10). As called servants of God, we must face the challenge to compromise our convictions for power, popularity and positions.

B. We Must Reach the People. We must certainly edify the saved people, but we must also evangelize the lost people, obeying the command to `do the work of an evangelist'.

"WHAT DID SPURGEON SAY?"

1. The Preacher must be called to the Office of Preaching.

2. The Preacher is called to a life of holiness. A. As demonstrated through an active prayer life. B. As demonstrated through his public praying. (Consider this: The preacher "prays more than an ordinary Christian, else he were a hypocrite... else he were disqualified for the office." p.42)

3.

The Preacher must care for himself.

A. Emotionally (for fear of depression)

B. Spiritually (for fear of "bum-out)

4.

The Preacher must guard his public persona.

A. Leaving his Ministerial Aires at home.

B. Remembering that he is always on duty.

5. The Preacher must be progressing. A. In his study. B. In all areas of his life.

(from Lectures To My Students)

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QUALIFICATIONS OF A PREACHER

l. SALVATION 2. CALL TO PREACH

6 ways men are called into the ministry: 1. After extensive preparation in some other area of life.

Moses - Ex. 3:1-10 Paul - Acts 9:1-9 Charles Finney - was a lawyer 2. Called through human instrumentality. Elisha - 1 Kings 19:19-ff. "Cast his mantle": Hebrew custom of clothing a child meant you were adopting the child. Timothy - 1 Timothy 4:13-16 George Truett - wanted to be a lawyer but church ordained him to preach. 3. Called from the womb - as long as you can remember you wanted to preach. Jeremiah 1:4ff 4. Called from one segment of God's work to another. Ezekiel - Ez. 2:1-3,19. He was a priest but was taken captive to Babylon and God called him to preach. 5. Called out of secular vocation and entered ministry without any formal training. Amos 7:10-15 Matthew - Mt. 9:9 6. The man who volunteers! Isaiah 6:1-8; 1 Tim. 3:1 SPURGEON'S THREE TESTS OF A CALL TO PREACH 1. Intense, all absorbing desire for the work. 2. Apt to teach, possesses qualities needful for the office of a public instructor.

3. Must see a measure of conversion work going on under his efforts.

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LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

There are two offices in the New Testament Church according to Scripture: Pastor (elder/s) and Deacon.

PASTOR - Definition: In Christian churches, those who, being raised up and qualified by the work of the Holy Spirit, were appointed to have a spiritual care and to exercise oversight over the churches. The NT would seem to be flexible as to the number of elders in a church. Three key interchangeable terms: presbuteros - elder; episkopos - bishop or overseer; poimen - pastor.

A. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PASTOR/ELDERS (8 FOLD) ? The pastor has overall responsibility for oversight and direction of the church. (Heb. 13:17, 1 Thess. 5:12) ? The pastor is responsible to seek in all matters the mind of Christ (who is the Head of the Church) through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. (Col. 1:18, Eph. 1:22, 1 Pet. 5:2) ? The pastor must be apt to teach and able to exhort the church in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict the truth. (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:9, Eph. 4:11) ? The pastor shall provide instruction for the maintenance of healthy relationships within the church. (1 Thess. 5:12, 2 Thess. 3:14-15, Gal. 6:1) ? The pastor shall exercise oversight of the financial matters of the church. (Acts 11:30) ? The pastor shall lead in the appointing of deacons as necessary to accomplish the mission of the church. (Acts 6:1-6) ? The pastor is to lead by example. (1 Peter 5:2-3, Heb. 13:7) ? The pastor is to exercise discipline (Gal. 6:1), but not to the exclusion of the entire body when warranted. (Matt. 18, 1 Cor. 5, 2 Cor. 2)

B. QUALIFICATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP AS A PASTOR/ELDER (20 FOLD) ? Above reproach - blameless, having unimpeachable integrity, no grounds for accusation of improper Christian behavior. (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:6) ? Husband of one wife - he has only one woman in his life and is to be faithful to her; he is a one woman man. (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:6)

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VARIOUS VIEWS OF HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE 1. No polygamy (Hence, only one wife at a time) 2. No divorce (ever) 3. One wife and no more than one (would prohibit single men) 4. One wife and no more than one unless separated by death 5. Post-conversion (only one wife after conversion unless separated by death) 6. One woman unless Biblically divorced and Biblically remarried 7. All options are also applied to the pastor's wife by some 8. A one woman kind of man, always, or at present

? Temperate - not in bondage to himself or desires of the flesh, self-controlled, calm, sober, collected in spirit. (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:8)

? Prudent - sensible, wise, balanced in judgment, not given to quick superficial decisions based on immature thinking. (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:8)

? Respectable - demonstrating good behavior and an orderly life. (1 Tim. 3:2) ? Hospitable - generous, a stranger lover, willing to share his blessings with others. (1

Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:8) ? Able to teach - can communicate the truth of God to others and exhort them in sound

doctrine. (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:9) ? Not addicted to wine - not a drunkard; not controlled by, but free from alcohol. (1 Tim.

3:3, Titus 1:7) ? Not pugnacious - not physically violent, not a person who creates trouble and fights. (1

Tim. 3:3, Titus 1:7) ? Uncontentious - not given to quarreling or selfish argumentation. (1 Tim. 3:3) ? Gentle - fair, equitable, not insisting on his own rights. (1 Tim. 3:3) ? Not fond of sordid gain - free from the love of money. (1 Tim. 3:3, Titus 1:7) ? Manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

- has the respect of his family and is recognized as the head/leader of his household. (1 Tim. 3:4, Titus 1:6) ? Not a new convert - a mature believer, having been a Christian long enough to demonstrate the reality of his conversion and the depth of his spirituality. (1 Tim. 3:6) ? Good reputation among people outside the church - unbelievers must respect his character and integrity. (1 Tim. 3:7) ? Not self-willed - not stubborn, or insisting on his own way, not forcing his own ideas and opinions on others. (Titus 1:7) ? Not quick-tempered - not one who "flies off the handle" or get angry quickly. (Titus 1:7)

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? Loves what is good - desires to do God's will in everything. (Titus 1:8) ? Just - fair, impartial, able to make objective judgments based upon principle. (Titus 1:8) ? Holding fast the faithful word - committed to God's Word as true and authoritative,

obedient to God's Word in all matters, not hypocritical, but living in accordance with that which it teaches. (Titus 1:9) Special note: God is not demanding perfection in the above areas, for He knows the weaknesses of man. But what He does require is a heart commitment to His standards and a willingness to conform to them. To be pastor, a man must demonstrate a high degree of maturity in all of the areas listed above. The emphasis is more on who he is than even what he does. C. DISCIPLINE OF AN ELDER

Accusations of criticisms of an elder are to be received according to 1 Tim. 5:19-21. If the pastor is guilty of an offense, he shall be counseled by other godly, spiritually mature men with a view toward restoration (Gal. 6:1-2). If the erring elder continues to sin, he shall be removed from office and disciplined according to Matt. 18:15-17. If a spiritual leader is not guilty of that which is illegal, immoral, unethical, or clearly unbiblical, it is the responsibility of the church to follow his leadership as this is the will of God. (cf. 1 Thess. 5:12-15; Heb. 13:7, 17) D. FOUR MAJOR TEXTS FOR THE PASTOR/ELDER(S) 1. Acts 20:28-38 2. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 3. Titus 1:5-9 4. 1 Peter 5:1-4

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF EACH OFFICE ? Pastor/Elders: Broad oversight, Pastoral, Teaching/Evangelism, Counseling and Restoration, Equipping, Serves as long as qualified and has a desire to do so ? Elder's Function - Ministry oversight

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INTEGRITY IN MINISTRY

What God Expects of His Ministers By Daniel L. Akin President

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

There is an increasing need for integrity in the ministry. "We are facing an integrity crisis. Not only is the conduct of the church in question, but so is the very character of the church" (Warren Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, p. 171).

A morality crisis exists in the ministry. An integrity crisis faces the servants of God. Immorality has reach a panepidemic stage in the evangelical community both in the pulpit and in the pew. Respect for the man of God has reached an all time low. The secular media exploits every failure. The man in the street pokes fun with jokes depicting ministers as interested only in women, money, power and prestige. The Church of God reels in heartbreak, confusion and distrust as once respected leaders are repeatedly exposed in sin and shame. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is in critical condition. The situation calls for quick and decisive action. It is essential, therefore, that we determine: 1) the cause of the crisis, 2) the cost of the crisis, and finally, 3) the cure for the crisis in ministry.

1. The Cause of the Integrity/Morality Crisis in Ministry

Our present problem has been in the making for many years. The root cause is simply sin and the evil located in the human heart (Jer. 17:9; Matt. 15:19). Satan, working in concert with the flesh, has utilized some effective weapons to destroy many men of God. A secular culture, together with its values, has affected the church more than the church has affected it. Four specific areas have been especially alluring to those whom God has called to the ministry.

1) Materialism is fast becoming a problem in ministry. Many men today are driven not by God but by gold. They are motivated not by the Savior but by silver and self interest. God wants His ministers to receive adequate provision and that they should not be paupers (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 1 Tim. 5:17-18). However, too many of God's ministers view themselves in the model of the corporate CEO rather than a shepherd-servant or pastor-teacher of His flock. They lose personal perspective

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